SAN DIEGO
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The San Diego High Educational Complex has something found at no other public high school in the region: an alternative-energy program where students convert used cooking oil into biodiesel and learn chemistry and automotive science along the way.
NANCEE E. LEWIS / Union-Tribune
Conducting a water solubility test last week on cooking oil converted to biodiesel fuel at San Diego High was student Craig Becton. The finished product already has been used on some cars and machinery. photos
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Encouraged by the response to the program, education officials and leaders in alternative energy are looking to replicate it at other schools.
In December, the School of Science and Technology at San Diego High had a biodiesel processor installed in its auto shop. Ever since, students have been making biodiesel out of used cooking oil gathered from school cafeterias.
The goal is to power San Diego Unified School District's food services trucks with clean energy. The biodiesel made by students already has been used to run San Diego High's power washer.
Students who didn't know anything about biodiesel before have become converts. Some now talk about the benefits of biodiesel, which produces far fewer emissions than regular petroleum diesel.
“Regular diesel makes this big black smoke. It's toxic to the air. We are breathing it. With the biodiesel, it's clean,” said Eugenio Patacsil, 19.
NANCEE E. LEWIS / Union-Tribune
Shop teacher Jon Karanopoulos directed (from left) Jose Carrillo, Craig Becton and Luis Aguayo in making biodiesel fuel.
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Producing biodiesel
Making biodiesel from used cooking oil takes many steps. For San Diego High School students, it is a two-day process. Here are the highlights:
 Used cooking oil is measured, sucked into a processor and heated. Methoxide, a combination of methanol and sodium hydroxide, is added to isolate glycerin, a maple-syrup like substance that can be used to make soap.
After the glycerin is drained, fine mists of water are sprayed on the biodiesel to wash out impurities. The washing process is repeated until the water comes out clean.
The oil is filtered out of the processor and set in a container to air dry, because some of the water would have been absorbed during the washing.
The finished biodiesel has the color of honey and smells like french fries when it is being burned. It burns far cleaner than regular diesel, and generally can be used in cars made after 1994.
Biodiesel acts like a solvent and cleans a car's fuel lines and fuel tanks. Improperly processed biodiesel can damage a car by clogging its fuel filters or injectors.
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The biodiesel program is made possible by the school's partnership with New Leaf Biofuel, a company founded by two mechanical engineering students from San Diego State University; the Advanced Transportation Technology Center at Miramar College; and the district's energy/utility management section, a leader in green initiatives.
Last year, the district received a $1.25 million state grant to build a hydrogen fueling station in Scripps Ranch to serve as a learning tool. In recent years, solar panels have been installed on the rooftops of scores of schools and office buildings to cut the district's energy bills.
J. William Naish, head of the energy/utility section, wants to make the district “America's best in renewable energy and sustainable practices.”
Naish has a lot of allies to help make that happen.
Nicole Kennard, president and co-founder of New Leaf Biofuel who is studying for a master's degree at SDSU, met Naish at an energy engineers meeting. From there, a connection was made that led to the San Diego High project.
“I just think it's something kids can be excited about, and it's tangible for them,” Kennard said.
The company's vice president of operations, David Richards, a fellow SDSU student, built the biodiesel processor for San Diego High. Richards drives a Volkswagen Jetta powered by biodiesel, some of it from batches made by students.
While supporting educational efforts, New Leaf Biofuel is working to launch a production facility that will convert used cooking oil from area restaurants into biodiesel for sale. More than 200 restaurants have signed up, Kennard said.
Gregory Newhouse, who manages Miramar College's Advanced Transportation Technology Center, sees momentum building steadily for alternative fuels to become mainstream.
Enrollment in Miramar's program, where students study alternative fuels and hybrid technology, has been growing, Newhouse said. The college has reached out to San Diego High and other schools because it wants to prepare students to advance to its program.
“We want to influence both the automotive technology-interested kids as well as academic science kids,” Newhouse said.
Jon Karanopoulos, who teaches auto shop at San Diego High, said exposing students to biodiesel has the added benefit of opening their eyes to world affairs. They now can relate to President Bush's call for the nation to develop technology and alternative fuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
“I like my kids to have opportunities to explore different areas of where our society is going,” Karanopoulos said.
Helen Gao: (619) 718-5181; helen.gao@uniontrib.com
